Wednesday 5 October 2022

Hydrogen fuel station banks government cash

The government has backed what could become the world’s first liquid hydrogen fuel station for electric shipping.

A consortium led by Unitrove has come up with the innovation, with plans for the refuelling site to be operational by March 2025.

Liquid hydrogen, hydrogen in gas form and electric charging will all be available at the station.

Funding is being provided by the Department for Transport, as part of a £14 million investment into 31 green projects.

Steven Lua, CEO of Unitrove, said: “Winning this grant is fantastic news for the consortium and it is an excellent opportunity to help kick-start the development of a new world-first zero-emission multi-fuel station for hydrogen and electric vessels.

“The maritime industry is responsible for a significant proportion of pollutants associated with climate change and reduced air quality and a zero-emission multi-fuel station that can power boats running either hydrogen or electricity is expected to play a significant part in reducing these emissions.”

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan added: “The UK has always been a proud seafaring nation and helping the maritime sector to be more environmentally-friendly will mean it continues to play a key role in the UK’s economy for generations to come.”